In celebration of my 200th post, I wanted to answer a question close to my heart. I hope with everything in me that I'm like my mother. She is, without doubt, the best human being I know.
I hope I have her strength. My mom is a survivor, unbreakable in the face of any hardship life throws her way. After a life time of being handed lemons, she will, again and again and again, make the sweetest lemonade. Her determination and unfailing courage are inspirational to me. When asked about my hero, she is the first name off my lips. I don't care how cliche it is; it's true. Everything I am, I owe to my mother. She shaped me, finding the perfect balance between mentoring as a parent and being a friend.
I came to the realization in college that who I am as a person, based on my demographics and background, is such an atypical outcome for an individual. It's because I was raised by the greatest mom to ever mother. She instilled me the belief that an education is everything. That the American Dream is real -- if you put in the hard work, carry the determination and strive for it. Because of my mom, I learned how to pick myself up, brush myself off and keep going regardless of the obstacles I might encounter.
Life has never been easy for her but she's never let that keep her down. She's never given up or called it quits. Mom just lets it out then moves forward. The past is the past and in the future lies hope.
People speak of growing up to be their mother as a bad thing; I sincerely hope I grow up to be like mine.
I love you, mom.
